The History of Chipping Sodbury Town F.C.
Chipping Sodbury Football Club was founded in approximately 1885.
The oldest printed record of the club can be found in an old GFA handbook, a little way down the page from other local teams such has Bristol City, Rovers and Cheltenham Town.
They originally played in Red and White, at this time and for many years to come, they played in the Western League at a semi-pro level until they disbanded in 1954.
A few years later a police officer named Cliff Phelps started a local junior side. This team entered the Dursley & Wotton league in 1958. As the team grew up they entered the Bristol & District League – Division three, subsequently they were relegated to division 5.
The first team climbed the league’s to eventually get elected to the Bristol Combination Division 1 in 1991. In 1993 the club won the Premier Cup against Highridge Utd in a penalty shootout. The early 90s saw the new clubhouse and changing rooms built with the committee, and players contributing their trades.
In 1992 tragedy struck the club when 21 year old defender Jonathan Eacott, was tragically killed in an industrial accident in Wickwar.
In 1999 the first team gained promotion to the Premier Division before being relegated back to division one in 2001/02 season.
The Reserves finally achieved promotion as Division three champions and the first team improved again in Division one of the Premier Combination. The 2004/05 season saw the club again improve both on and off the field.
An introduction of a third team ran by ex- Radstock Town manager Chris Gear made immediate impact, with a handful of players making the first team grade, and the side achieving promotion in their first season.
The 2005-06 season saw the first team win the Premier Division One by 15 points and the third team gaining promotion for the second consecutive season.
The 2006-07 was another successful season with the Reserves now under the guidance of Chris Gear and Rich Bisp gaining promotion to District 1 on the last day of the season finishing Runners Up. The third team finished in a credible fourth spot and gained a third successive promotion to Division Three.
The season ended on a sad note with the loss of club stalwart John Beer, John gave over 30 years service as a player, manager and Chairman and he was a key figure in the building of the clubhouse we see today. He will always be remembered and the Clubs Clubman of the year award has been renamed the The John Beer Trophy in memory of a great servant.
In season 2007 -08 it was the most successful season in 123 year history with the 1st team winning the Bristol Premier Combination and gaining entry into the Surridge Gloucestershire County League for the first time in its history, and the Reserves winning the Bristol & District Division One and promotion to the Senior District, the third team finished in mid table of the Third District and the 4th in their first season under Kev Milford were promoted at their first attempt.
Off the pitch a loan and a grant from the Town’s Trust was secured to update the facilities to achieve County League Football and help move the club forward again.
A final note goes to Chairman Mike Boulton who with over 40 years service to the club has seen the good and the bad times and still keeps driving the club forward.